For real-time news on business, politics and economic development in the South, go towww.RandleReport.com. For even more economic development news in the South, including all project announcements, go to www.SB-D.com. For more information on the automotive industry in the South, including all project announcements, go to www.SouthernAutoCorridor.com. And for complete coverage of economic development in the rural South, go to www.SmallTownSouth.com.EDITOR'S NOTE: On August 31, 2012, The Randle Report launched www.RandleSportsReport.com.

An end of an era in Shreveport

General Motors' Shreveport assembly plant closed for good shortly after the last truck assembled rolled off the line early Tuesday afternoon, August 28, 2012. On the front of the truck was a sign that read, "8,853,693rd," documenting the number of vehicles assembled at the GM plant in Shreveport since it opened in 1981. On the back bumper of the last vehicle, a sign read "That's all folks!" The plant had always been a truck-related plant and in 2000 GM invested $1 billion in the facility. Shortly after that, Shreveport became the sole producer of the Hummer H3 vehicle. After the demise of Hummer in 2010, the facility produced the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon pickup models. On the final day of production, about 800 workers had clocked in. At one point, over 3,000 workers were housed at the facility. Assembly of the two pickup truck models was moved to GM's Missouri plant.